“Team A(A)” by Daniel Jaroszek in cinemas. A film that allows you to “insert your own stories”. “Restores faith in people”

“Team A(A)” is a comedy-drama directed by Daniel Jaroszek and his second full-length feature film, after he delighted Polish audiences with his 2022 debut “Johnny”. “Team A(A)” tells the story of a group of anonymous alcoholics who want to save their treatment center at all costs. The solution turns out to be a mission to smuggle two tanks of spirits through Poland. In order not to give in to temptation, for their own safety they kidnap their therapist. Despite this, the journey turns out to be more dangerous than they expected.

The main roles were played by: Danuta Stenka, Magdalena Cielecka, Maria Sobocińska, Michał Żurawski, Łukasz Simlat and Mikołaj Kubacki. The script was written by Jacek Wasilewski and Tomasz Kwaśniewski, and the cinematographer is Michał Dąbal. The co-producer of the film is TVN Warner Bros. Discovery (owner of tvn24.pl, which is part of Warner Bros. Discovery).

Jaroszek's latest comedy-drama hit cinemas on Friday (September 20), and on Wednesday a ceremonial cinema premiere took place in Warsaw, attended by, among others, the creators and cast of the film.

According to Daniel Jaroszek, the topic of alcoholism, therapy, AA meetings is “very important for many Poles”. In an interview with TVN24, the director pointed out that the film tells a story that reaches for this topic.

– It is presented in an unusual way, which I am very proud of, because it is the merit of my friends, with whom I made this film. It is a bit of a fairy tale, which we deliberately created in this way. In Polish cinema, there were many films about alcoholism, showing all this dirt and everything related to it, and which were great. However, I decided to go my own way, which I like, and I made the film that I feel the most, i.e. classic middle cinema with a moral – assessed Jaroszek.

– If this film changes anything in the life of even one person, then I will know that it was worth making – he added.

Mikołaj Kubacki – normally an actor at the Stary Theatre in Kraków, who impressed, among others, in Xawery Żuławski's film “Apokawix” with his role as Kamil – in “Team A(A)” he plays Dominik – a young anonymous alcoholic who, together with others, takes part in the operation to save the centre.

– This film restores my faith in people and in their ability to heal their problems, addictions, traumas – Kubacki assessed. – For about a year and a half I have been drinking alcohol minimally, and for five months I haven't had a drink at all, which I feel very good about. I also talk about it out loud, because it is very uplifting for me – he noted.

The actor playing Dominik also explained that the film's characters only begin to believe in the strength of their group over time. – At first, it's not all rosy, everyone is rather negative towards each other, they judge the other person completely unnecessarily. Later, it all changes and we gain from getting closer to each other, from being able to share our life stories – revealed Kubacki.

Michał Żurawski said that his character Leszek is “the most enterprising of the whole crew”. – He is probably the most motivated, the only one of the whole addicted crew who pushes him towards success, which is a stable life. But as it happens in a good film, at the beginning an atomic bomb goes off and you have to figure out how to do it – confessed Żurawski.

On the other hand, the character of Klementyna “Celniczka” – played by Magdalena Cielecka – is a typical villain. In an interview with TVN24, Cielecka assessed that “Team A(A)” is an example of a “feel good movie”, i.e. a film “that makes us feel good”. – But it is also a film that raises important issues to think about, to consider, to ask ourselves various questions. To care about the stories of the characters who make up our AA team – explained the actress.

– The film is about a very serious alcohol problem, but not only that – about addictions in general and about the therapy center where these “team members” stay – Cielecka noted. In her opinion, “Team A(A)” is also a kind of fairy tale. – A slightly unrealistic parable, where we can add some things to ourselves and insert our own stories – she added.